Since 1989, from the time of Solidarity, to the Eastern Partnership and visa-free travel, Poland has always supported Ukraine's European aspirations. We have been drawing the EU's attention to its eastern neighbours," said the Speaker of the Sejm during a plenary session entitled "Association with the European Union and What Next?" as part of the 11th Europe-Ukraine Forum.

The Marshal argued that it contributed to signing and entering into force of the Association Agreement (AA) - the largest ever signed by the EU with another state, together with the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and introduction of the visa-free regime with Ukraine. Poland's policy towards Ukraine results first of all from our raison d'etre and convergence of interests, from the security needs of both countries in all their dimensions.

According to Marek Kuchciński, the common policy of strengthening security and cooperation is independent of temporary tensions in our bilateral relations. An example is the opposition to the construction of Nord Stream 2, where Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Estonia and Ukraine act together on this issue.

Infrastructural plans are worth mentioning, such as the construction of new road and railroad border crossings (Malchowice), as well as launching new railroad connections, such as express trains from Kiev to Warsaw or to Przemyśl and further west as far as Dresden or even Paris - because these are, according to the Marshal, the plans we should make for ourselves. Like Via Carpatia, with planned sections to Odessa. These are small but constant steps towards our common future.

The Speaker said that the most important task for Ukraine on its path towards rapprochement with the EU is the full implementation of reforms arising from the signed AA/DCFTA agreements, which will drive the transformation of the Ukrainian economy. The international community expects that deep reforms of the functioning of the state and the economy will be carried out in Ukraine. At the same time, the success of the reforms will be a response to Russia's attempts to destabilize the situation in Ukraine. Polish ministries, non-governmental organizations and numerous experts are also involved in the reform process in Ukraine. And today's Forum is the best example of it. The Marshal also expressed hope that the common policy of strengthening and security of cooperation is independent of temporary tensions resulting from various bilateral relations, also in historical contexts. As an example he gave the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline - If this gas pipe is built, it will be a threat to Poland, a threat to the Baltics, but in my opinion the main threat to Ukraine. Because if it is launched there, then it will be a signal for the world that Russia can already move with a full invasion, without consequences, to Ukraine. Because the gas pipe, which goes through Ukraine at the moment, will cease to be important," said the Speaker of the Sejm.

The Speaker presented the Ukrainians as an example of successful relations, resulting from cultural similarities. - Firstly, we know each other well, secondly, we have a similar mentality, not only due to the fact that we are Slavs, but also due to the mentality, behavior and characteristics of countries located in Central Europe, which distinguish us from absolutist systems, for example the Moscow system or the Western ones, and which are said to be characterized by such an attitude of tolerance, understanding, openness, and on the other hand by heroism, which is today presented by many fighters in the eastern part of Ukraine," Kuchciński said. He also noted that between 1.3 million and 2 million Ukrainians work in Poland.

The two-day event in Jasionka near Rzeszów is attended by over 300 speakers, including from Poland, Ukraine, neighbouring countries and the USA. The Forum is organized by the Institute for Eastern Studies. The event is held under the honorary patronage of Speaker of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński. Panelists include Sejm Deputy Speakers Beata Mazurek and Ryszard Terlecki, Minister of Investment and Development Jerzy Kwieciński, Minister of Infrastructure and Construction Andrzej Adamczyk, Minister of Entrepreneurship and Technology Jadwiga Emilewicz, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Yuriy Rashkevych, Deputy Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Dmytro Zolotukhin and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Wasyl Bodnar.

Program Assumptions:

Plenary Sessions

• Association and what's next?
• Taking stock of the 2014-2018 quadrennium - successes and failures

Business and Economy

• Energy security: markets, policies, technologies
• Has immigration from Ukraine changed the European labor market?
• European market of agricultural products. Is there a place for Ukraine?
• Thresholds and barriers to trade and investment cooperation
• How to break the dominance of Russian suppliers? Changes on the Gas Market in Central and Eastern Europe
• Competitiveness of cities and regions. In search of ways to accelerate development
• How do we take advantage of opportunities for arms industry collaboration?
• Peripheral development syndrome. How to build an innovative economy?
• Main challenges for the aviation sector, assessment of air connectivity potential
• New Silk Road on the map of transcontinental transport corridors

European Integration and Reforms

• Where is Europe headed?
• From association to customs union? Ukraine in search of a realistic model for European integration
• Foreign advisors, experts and managers. A failed experiment? International support for reforms in Ukraine - consulting, financial assistance or development modeling?
• Is it possible to separate business from politics? Experience of Central and Eastern European countries
• How do you build a friendly border?
• Why has decentralization reform not changed Ukraine?
• European macro-regional strategies. How to include countries of the eastern neighbourhood in them?
• Eastern Partnership: New Ideas for a New Reality

International Politics

• On NATO's eastern flank. Do countries in the region know how to take care of their security?
• Not only Crimea and Donbas. Who doesn't want a permanent solution to frozen conflicts?
• How high could the price for a relaxation in Russia-Western relations be, and is anyone willing to pay it?
• The cohesion of the transatlantic community. Has it stood the test of 2017?
• The cybersecurity threat. Alert and action.
• Russian hybrid aggression against the free world and democracy continues. Can it be effectively countered?
• Cooperation of the Trilateral countries. Will Ukraine remain on the sidelines?
• Prospects for reviving Black Sea-Caspian partnership and cooperation.

Society

• Trade unions in former communist bloc countries. Do they have a future?
• Social aspects of aggression and occupation. Helping refugees, rebuilding destruction, restoring social ties.
• The ecological environment and concern for its preservation - a project across borders.
• Sports and Politics.
• Local identity as an opportunity for tourism development.
• Have we lost objective journalism?
• Ukrainians in the countries of Europe. Science, work, politics
• Education and youth cooperation a bridge to understanding.
• The politics of memory - source of strength or future conflicts?
• On culture in a new way. Directions of development, state and private patronage

 

Jerzy Hoffman received the Award "Carpathian Europe of Common Values". This award is given to outstanding personalities or institutions of the Carpathian countries, which by their actions have contributed to the promotion of common European values in Central and Eastern Europe and have influenced the development of cooperation and understanding in the region.